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Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
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9k | Vernard Eugene Bivin, the son of Elmer Thomas and Ella Florence (Walker) Bivin of Central City, Ken. was born in Greenville, Kentucky, on 23 November 1921. He enlisted in
the Navy at Louisville, Kentucky, on 26 March 1940. Seaman 1st Class Bivin served as trainer on one of the heavy cruiser Salt Lake City's (CA 25) 5"/25 guns during the Battle
of Cape Esperance on the night of 11-12 October 1942, when Task Group 62.4, under Rear Admiral Norman Scott, engaged a Japanese force of three heavy cruisers and two destroyers bent on shelling
Henderson Field. Although Salt Lake City and light cruiser Boise (CL 47) crippled Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka during that fierce night engagement;
both cruisers suffered damage in the fierce night action. S1c Bivin remained at his battle station, executing his duties so well that none of the other members of the gun’s crew knew he had been
mortally wounded. Only when he collapsed during a lull in the battle, still trying to keep his pointers matched and the gun firing without cessation, did they learn of the extent of the young
Kentuckian’s injuries that ultimately claimed his life. His courageous devotion to duty resulted in his being awarded, posthumously, the Navy Cross. USS Bivin (DE 536) (1944-1947) was the first ship to be named in his honor. (Photo © USS Salt Lake City Association courtesy of Sandy Eskew) |
Bill Gonyo Downey, Cal. | |
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188k | 09 November 1944: Boston, Mass. - USS Biven is seen across the fitting out pier from USS Ellyson (DD 454). Biven was commissioned on
31 October 1944, but would not be accepted by the Navy until 11 December 1944. She departed Boston for shakedown at Bermuda on 22 December 1944. She wears one of the few 3d Reverse camouflage
patterns carried by a DE. (U.S. Navy Photo #NA DD454-19LCM from the United States National Archives) |
John Chiquoine West Chester, Pa. / Rick Davis Springfield, Oh. | |
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57k | 15 December 1944: the Atlantic Ocean - A starboard quarter, and port beam, view of USS Biven (DE 536) off Boston. Biven is wearing
a reversed application of camouflage 32/3D. The middle of the ship is reflective and the dull black and ocean gray have been washed out. Lower photo is taken looking toward the sun, and
this washes out camouflage MS 32/3d, which is applied in a reversed application. Biven carries a SU radome midway up the mast above the bridge. Biven had been
commissioned on 31 October 1944. She was accepted by the Navy on 11 December 1944, and completed at the Boston Navy Yard on 14 December 1944, the day before these photos were taken. (U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships Photos #BS 132249 and BS 132248 from the United States National Archives) |
John Klar Somerville, N.J. / Mike Green Port Angeles, Wash. | |
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43k | |||
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267k | circa 1960: San Diego, Cal. - U .S. Navy Reserve Fleet ships berthed at Naval Base San Diego, California. Ships include (l-r): USS
Charles J. Kimmel (DE 584), USS Richey (DE 385),
USS Bivin (DE 536), USS Gillette
(DE 681) and USS Bull (APD 78) (U.S. Naval Historical Center photo #NH 72678 from the Naval History and Heritage Command) |
Bob Hurst Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom | |
| Bivin History |
| View the USS Bivin (DE 536) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site. |
| View the official War History of USS Bivin as submitted by the ship at war's end. |
| Bivin's Commanding Officers Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler |
| Dates of Command | Commanding Officers |
|---|---|
| 1.) 31 Oct. 1944 – 09 Feb. 1945 | Lcdr. Monroe Kelly Jr., USN (Comm. CO) (USNA ‘38) (Navy Jr. / Williamsburg, Va.) |
| 2.) 09 Feb. 1945 – 20 Apr. 1945 | Lcdr. William Clinton French Jr., USNR (Evanston, Ill.) |
| 3.) 20 Apr. 1945 – 04 Nov. 1945 | Lcdr. / Cmdr. Addisson B. Bradley Jr., USNR (Winetka, Ill.) |
| 4.) 04 Nov. 1945 - .. Mar. 1946 | Lcdr. John F. Floberg, USNR (Chicago, Ill.) |
| 5.) .. Mar. 1946 - .. Jun. 1946 | Lt.(jg) Samuel H. Sapp, USNR |
| 6.) .. Jun. 1946 – 10 Oct. 1946 | Lcdr. Roy Arthur Norelius, USNR |
| 7.) 10 Oct. 1946 – 15 Jan. 1947 | Lcdr. Luin Grover Cleveland, USN (Decomm. CO) |
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